Nomado Car Rental Christchurch (Hornby depot)
305 Marshs Road, Hornby South, Christchurch, Canterbury 8042
Normal hours 9am–5pm · 7–9am or 5–7pm by advance arrangement, $50 per collection or return
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Christchurch
Locally owned Christchurch car rental with unlimited kilometres, standard insurance and free arranged airport transport to our Hornby South depot.
About this location
Looking for cheap car rental in Christchurch? Nomado offers all-inclusive car hire from our depot at 305 Marshs Road, Hornby South, starting at $29/day. We do not have an airport depot; free airport transport is included, and Nomado arranges the method and sends instructions before arrival. Christchurch is the launchpad for Lake Tekapo, Mt Cook, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Kaikoura and the West Coast.
Every Nomado Christchurch rental includes unlimited kilometres, standard insurance with a $3,000 excess per separate incident, approved additional drivers, normal New Zealand toll charges, normal cleaning, GST and mechanical roadside assistance. Premium is optional at $15 per rental day and reduces the excess for covered damage to $500. Other optional and service charges are set out before booking or in the Rental Agreement.
We do not operate a depot at Christchurch Airport. Free transport to our depot at 305 Marshs Road, Hornby South, is included and takes around 15–20 minutes depending on traffic. Nomado arranges the transport method and sends collection instructions before arrival.
The Mazda Demio budget car is perfect for solo travellers and couples doing a Christchurch–Queenstown loop. Our mid-size Mitsubishi Outlander SUV handles the family and gear for a Tekapo–Mt Cook adventure. For ski season, groups, or campervan-style trips with luggage on the roof, the 4WD 7 seater SUV with roof racks (surfboards, skis and snowboards all fit) is the go-to choice.
Nomado is a New Zealand owned and operated rental car company. We're not a franchise, so we don't pay a percentage to a global brand — those savings go straight into your daily rate. You'll pay less than Apex, Hertz, Budget, GoRentals, Ezi or Europcar for a like-for-like Christchurch rental, and you'll deal with the same small team from booking to drop-off.
Christchurch → Lake Tekapo (3 hrs, sealed): turquoise lakes, dark-sky reserve and lupins in November. Christchurch → Mt Cook Village (4.5 hrs): Hooker Valley walk and NZ's tallest peak. Christchurch → Queenstown (6 hrs): the classic South Island road trip. Christchurch → Kaikoura (2.5 hrs): whale watching and rugged coast. Christchurch → Arthur's Pass & Franz Josef (4 hrs to the Pass, 6 hrs to the glacier): one of NZ's most dramatic alpine crossings.
One-way rentals between our Christchurch depot at 305 Marshs Road, Hornby South and Auckland depot at 19 Tironui Road, Takanini may be available by prior written agreement. The one-way charge is $250 and the approved return depot is recorded in your Rental Agreement. You book and pay for any Cook Strait ferry separately.
Between June and September, the drive from Christchurch inland to Mt Cook, Wanaka and Queenstown may require snow chains on the passes. Snow chains are available to hire on request. All our SUVs and 7 seaters are 4WD-capable and roof racks are included at no extra cost. We recommend the 4WD 7 seater or mid-size SUV for winter ski trips to Mt Hutt, Porters or the Wanaka fields. See our winter road trip guide for the full picture.
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305 Marshs Road, Hornby South, Christchurch, Canterbury 8042
Normal hours 9am–5pm · 7–9am or 5–7pm by advance arrangement, $50 per collection or return
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Top Drives
3 hr sealed drive to Lake Tekapo's turquoise waters, the Church of the Good Shepherd and the world-class Aoraki Mackenzie dark-sky reserve.
4.5 hrs via Tekapo and Pukaki to Aoraki/Mt Cook Village. Walk the Hooker Valley track under NZ's tallest peak.
6 hr South Island classic via Mt Cook and the MacKenzie Country. One of the world's best drives.
2.5 hrs north up the coast — whale watching, seal colonies and crayfish shacks along State Highway 1.
4 hrs to Arthur's Pass, 6 hrs to Franz Josef. One of NZ's most dramatic alpine crossings.
5.5 hrs to Wanaka — perfect for winter ski trips and the summer Roys Peak sunrise hike.
Nomado car rental in Christchurch starts from $29/day for our budget Mazda Demio. All rentals include unlimited kilometres, standard insurance and unlimited additional drivers — no daily add-ons, no hidden fees. A mid-size SUV starts from $49/day and our 7 seater from $59/day.
Nomado is locally owned and operates from an off-airport depot, with free arranged airport transport. Compare the final quote, cover, inclusions and any optional extras before choosing a rental.
We do not have a depot at Christchurch Airport. We provide free transport to our Christchurch depot at 305 Marshs Road, Hornby South, around 15–20 minutes away depending on traffic. See our dedicated Christchurch Airport car rental page for transport details.
Yes. Every Nomado Christchurch rental — from the $29/day budget car to the 7 seater SUV — comes with genuinely unlimited kms. Drive to Queenstown, Milford, the West Coast glaciers and back to Christchurch without a per-km charge.
Yes, subject to availability and prior written agreement. The Christchurch–Auckland one-way charge is $250, and the agreed return depot is recorded in your Rental Agreement.
A full, current driver licence held for at least 12 months. Overseas licences not in English need an accompanying certified translation or International Driving Permit. Minimum driver age is 21. See our driving in New Zealand guide for the full checklist.
For most South Island roads a standard 2WD is fine year-round. If you're heading to Mt Hutt, Porters, Ohau or Round Hill ski fields, or driving in heavy snow to Queenstown/Wanaka, our 4WD 7 seater SUV (with roof racks included) is the right pick.
Absolutely — Christchurch to Queenstown via Lake Tekapo and the MacKenzie Country is one of the world's great drives (about 6 hours, 480 km). Unlimited kilometres are included, and it's a sealed road year-round (chains may be required in winter).
There is no bond or pre-authorisation hold. We retain authorised card details and may charge amounts expressly authorised by the Rental Agreement, including damage, fuel, cleaning, fines, recovery costs and late returns. Excluded damage may exceed the insurance excess.
Yes — most of our vehicles can travel on the Interislander or Bluebridge ferry from Picton. Just let us know at booking so we can arrange the paperwork.